It was a long drive up into Austria but we were happy to find much cheaper petrol and our destination, a very cool campground.

 

We had booked through Eurocamp.co.uk and got a 3 bedroom cabin. Though a bit cold at night it was well set up and easy to live in for a week. The camp had an onsite kids club running, which had 2 morning sessions and an afternoon session so for most of the week the kids went there. BK found an onsite library so he got some work in while the kids were at the kids club. I was happy to have some much needed peace and quiet while everyone was out of the cabin. The rain set in for a few days so no one was very motivated to explore further afield than the camp.

 

We celebrated C’s birthday during the week. At the supermarket I found a make you own cake in a box, just add eggs/butter/water, and thought to myself “I can do that”, then proceeded to march myself to the onsite camp restaurant and ask to borrow a cake tin, which they kindly obliged! When he woke up to balloons everywhere, a cake and gifts on the table he was very pleased so that was a winner! He had a great day despite the rain.

 

Little R went to the kids club by herself that day which she never ever would have done a year ago. We are so proud of our wee girl’s personal growth during this trip, it’s been so lovely to watch her spread her wings and take on the world. So much thanks to her teacher last year for working so hard on not only R’s education but also her emotional side too. We love you Mrs B! Forever grateful! 💜

 

By Friday it had fined up so we did the things we were meant to on C’s birthday. We played mini golf and went on an Austrian style luge which they call a toboggan. It was attached to rails (like a roller coaster) as opposed to driving on a track like the type of luge we were familiar with but the fundamentals were the same, drive your self, in a cart, down a mountain…at speed! The boys went together on one cart and the girls in the other. I was instructed plenty of times to slow down by my passenger, she wouldn’t have done well in a cart with her Dad, I was slow compared to him! 😄😄😄

 

The following day we woke up to blue skies. We had come to this area of Austria for one reason, 10 years ago when we were in Europe we did a bit of a WWII stuff, we followed the Band of Brothers TV series and found ourselves in the middle of nowhere several times exploring where they had been (I, to this day, have never seen the series!) Anyway, they were the company to come across Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden after the war ended. The un-researched young us pitched up at the start of winter trying to see an alpine area, only to find it was shut for the season! ☹️ So, take 2 in 2018, we turned up on a great day, took a bus to a very gold elevator and were taken up into the house, which is now a restaurant. We looked around, ate apple cake and enjoyed the views. R found some snow on the ground and formed it into a ball to throw at her brother, except she missed and got a lady! 😲 Fortunately the lady took it well and we all had a laugh together.

 

It’s time to continue the trip north!

 

Till next time,

 

Claire

 

Budget update:

Austria : $581 under

Total budget : $3493 under

It appears to me I either way over budgeted or I’m awesome at keeping the fam on the straight and narrow after 2017’s efforts of hard core saving! Either way, yay!